AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 18, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The following is an investment opinion issued by Stockwinners.com.
Option trading was brisk on Thursday, as traders adjusted positions ahead of Friday's November expiration. Semiconductor HOLDRS put options were being sold, as players expected chip stocks to head higher. Stockwinners.com Active Traders page reported sale of 16,000 contracts of SMH January $35 put options for about $3.28 million. Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:INTC) comprises 21.5 percent of this index. At last check shares of the Semiconductor HOLDRS were up 2 cents to $34.31 while Intel shares were better by 23 cents.
Lucent Technologies (NYSE:LU) call options were being sold in the afternoon session. At one time, Active Trader page reported sale of 40,000 contracts of the April '05 $4 call options for about $2.0 million, a defensive move. The trader was expecting shares to pull back and fall below the $4 level that had acted as a resistance for the past seven months. At the time of the transaction, shares were up 16 cents at $4.11.
Altria Group (NYSE:MO) call options were being sold as investors were taking profits after shares hit a 52-week high. A trader sold 5,000 contracts of the January $50 call options for $4.5 million. On Wednesday, Active Trader page had reported purchase of those call options. At last reading shares were up $1.61 to $59.03.
In addition to daily option block trades, the Stockwinners.com Active Traders page continuously delivers a variety of information traders can use to improve their results. A feature that has proven to be very popular involves lists of stocks that have been heavily shorted and could offer "short-squeeze" opportunities. One recent such posting was Chiron Corp. (NASDAQ:CHIR). The issue was featured on Thursday at $33.68. At last check, shares were up $0.39 to $33.85. Free two-week on-line trial subscriptions to the STOCKWINNERS.com service are available at http://www.stockwinners.com/info/first_time.html.
Stockwinners.com, Inc. is not a registered broker dealer or a registered investment adviser. No information accessed through the Stockwinners.com, Inc. Web site, or any link contained on the Stockwinners.com, Inc. Web site, constitutes a recommendation by Stockwinners.com, Inc. to buy, sell or hold any security, financial product, or instrument discussed therein. Information accessed through linked sites neither is, nor should be construed as, an offer, or a solicitation of an offer, to buy or sell securities by Stockwinners.com, Inc. Stockwinners.com, Inc. may or may not hold positions in securities being discussed in this news release and/or mentioned on the Stockwinners.com, Inc. Web site. Investors shall be fully responsible for any investment decisions they make, and such decisions will be based solely on their evaluation of their financial circumstances, investment objectives, risk tolerance and liquidity needs. Investors are encouraged to consult with their registered broker and/or investment adviser before making any investment decision.